Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. G! BRADY.

GAR COUPLING. v

No. 469,055. Patented Feb. 16, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. BRADY, OF PARKINSON, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COU PLl NG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,055, dated February 16, 1892.

Application filed October 3, 1891. Serial No. 407,605. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES G. BRADY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parkinson, in the county of Gratiot and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in car-couplers; and it consists in the peculiar construction of the drawbars, having vertically-extending hooks at the ends thereof, alink adapted to engage said hooks together, with an uncoupling device consisting of a lever secured to an actuating bar or rod extending across the car to the sides thereof, so arranged that the links may be operated from the sides of the car.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the meeting ends of two cars to which my couplers are applied. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the couplers and link-operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the couplingheads.

A and B represent the ends of two adjoining cars adapted to be coupled.

C is the draft-bar of my coupler, which is secured in position by suitable stirrups D and connected to suitable springs E at its inner end. This draw-bar at its outer end is provided with an enlarged head F, having a bufier-face G at its front end and a rearwardly and upwardly extending hook H upon its upper surface, shoulders I being formed upon each side of the hook upon the head F to support the link I, as plainly shown in Fig. 3.

J is an inwardly-curved locking-face on the rear of the hook, and K is an upwardly-curved guide-face on the front of the hook.

L is a loopshaped lever of suitable length to pass over the hook I and is secured at its inner end upon the shaft M, journaled in suitable bearings across the end or beneath the car and provided at each end with an operating-crank N, by means of which the lever may be raised up beside the car, as shown at the right hand in Fig. 3, or turned down over the hook, as shown at the left hand in Fig. 3. The shoulders I have the rounded portion 0 at the rear edge of the hook, and a depression is formed between the head of the draw-bar and the car, for the purpose more fully hereinafter described. The parts being thus constructed and two cars approaching each other provided with my couplers to couple them the operator turns the crank N at one side of the car, depresses the lever L, which bears against the end of the link, and rocks it upon the shoulder 0 as a fulcrum into the inclined position shown at the left hand in Fig. 3, in which position it may be held until the two cars come together, when, by releasing his hold of the crank N, the link will fall over the hook and couple the cars. locking-face J on the hooks will prevent the links from uncoupling in the ordinary use; but I prefer to employ a spring-block P, placed between the ends of the draw-bars, as shown in Fig. 1, to hold them separated and prevent any possible disengagement of the link from the hooks. .This spring-block also gives me a substantially rigid connection between the two cars, which assists very materially in preventing the jarring and jolting in stopping and starting, which is especially undesirable in cattle-trains. This springblock I preferably provide with an enlarged head Q to hold it in its position.

To uncouple, the operator removes the springblock P, depresses the lever L by means of the crank-arm N, which will raise the link out of engagement with the hook on the adjoining car and allow the cars to separate.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. In a car-coupler, the combination,with the draw-bar, the head F, and the hook H upon the upper face of said head, of shoulders I beside said hook, the link I, and the lever L,

substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination, with The rearward-inclined the vertically-descending hooks upon adjoining cars, of a link adapted to engage there- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in With, the shoulders I, fulcrum O, and lever L,

presence of two Witnesses.

substantially as described. JAMES BRADY 3. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the draw-bar, substantially as described, of the spring-block P, substantially as set forth.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, N. L. LINDOP. 

